Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2014 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish, 32498-32499 [2014-13070]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) have already
been subject to notice and comment and
authorize the AA to file a notification
with the Office of the Federal Register
to reduce the duration of the
recreational fishing season the following
fishing year if an ACL overage occurs.
All that remains is to notify the public
of the reduced recreational fishing
season for snowy grouper for the 2014
fishing year. Additionally, there is a
need to immediately notify the public of
the reduced recreational fishing season
for snowy grouper for the 2014 fishing
year, to prevent snowy grouper
recreational harvest from further
exceeding the ACL, which will help
protect the South Atlantic snowy
grouper resource. Also, providing prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment on this action would be
contrary to the public interest because
many of those affected by the length of
the recreational fishing season,
particularly charter vessel and headboat
operations, book trips for clients in
advance and, therefore need as much
time as possible to adjust business plans
to account for the reduced recreational
fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 2, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–13069 Filed 6–2–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120403249–2492–02]
RIN 0648–XD200
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic; 2014 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure
for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
AGENCY:
NMFS implements
accountability measures (AMs) for the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the South Atlantic for the 2014 fishing
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:48 Jun 04, 2014
Jkt 232001
year through this temporary rule.
Recreational landings from 2013, as
estimated by the Science and Research
Director (SRD), exceeded the
recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for
golden tilefish. Furthermore,
information from 2014 recreational
landings indicates that landings are
projected to reach the recreational ACL
on June 7, 2014. To account for the 2013
ACL overage and to prevent an ACL
overage in 2014, NMFS closes the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in
the South Atlantic EEZ on June 7, 2014.
This closure is necessary to protect the
golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 7, 2014, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: Catherine.Hayslip@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes golden tilefish,
is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared
by the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council and is
implemented under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622.
In 2013, NMFS published a temporary
rule (78 FR 32995, June 3, 2013) to
implement the post-season AM to
reduce the 2013 fishing season for the
recreational golden tilefish component
of the snapper-grouper fishery. As a
result, the recreational sector for golden
tilefish was closed June 3, 2013, until
January 1, 2014.
The recreational ACL for golden
tilefish is 3,019 fish. In accordance with
regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2), if
recreational landings reach or are
projected to reach the recreational ACL,
the Assistant Administrator, NMFS
(AA) will file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register to close
the recreational sector for the remainder
of the fishing year. If the recreational
ACL is exceeded, then during the
following fishing year, recreational
landings will be monitored for a
persistence in increased landings and, if
necessary, the AA will file a notification
with the Office of the Federal Register
to reduce the length of the following
fishing season by the amount necessary
to ensure landings do not exceed the
recreational ACL in the following
fishing year. Finalized landings data
from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Science Center indicate that the golden
tilefish recreational ACL was exceeded
by 1,255 fish in 2013. To account for the
2013 ACL overage and to prevent an
ACL overage in 2014, the recreational
sector for golden tilefish in the South
Atlantic EEZ will be closed on June 7,
2014. Therefore, this temporary rule
implements an AM to close the
recreational golden tilefish component
of the snapper-grouper fishery for the
remainder of the 2014 fishing year. As
a result, the recreational sector for
golden tilefish in the South Atlantic
EEZ will be closed effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time June 7, 2014.
During the closure, the bag and
possession limit for golden tilefish in or
from the South Atlantic EEZ is zero. The
recreational sector for golden tilefish
will reopen on January 1, 2015, the
beginning of the 2015 recreational
fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, (RA) has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of the South Atlantic
golden tilefish component of the South
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(a)(2) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act because the temporary rule is issued
without opportunity for prior notice and
comment.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there
is good cause to waive the requirements
to provide prior notice and opportunity
for public comment on this temporary
rule. Such procedures are unnecessary
because the AMs established by
Regulatory Amendment 12 to the FMP
(77 FR 61295, October 9, 2012) and
located at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) have
already been subject to notice and
comment and authorize the AA to file
a notification with the Office of the
Federal Register to close the recreational
sector for the remainder of the fishing
year if recreational landings reach or are
projected to reach the recreational ACL.
All that remains is to notify the public
of the recreational closure for golden
tilefish for the remainder of the 2014
fishing year. Additionally, there is a
need to immediately notify the public of
the reduced recreational fishing season
for golden tilefish for the 2014 fishing
year to prevent further golden tilefish
recreational harvest and prevent the
ACL from being exceeded, which will
protect the South Atlantic golden
E:\FR\FM\05JNR1.SGM
05JNR1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
tilefish resource. Also, providing prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment on this action would be
contrary to the public interest because
many of those affected by the length of
the recreational fishing season,
particularly charter vessel and headboat
operations, book trips for clients in
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:48 Jun 04, 2014
Jkt 232001
advance and, therefore need as much
time as possible to adjust business plans
to account for the reduced recreational
fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
32499
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 2, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–13070 Filed 6–2–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\05JNR1.SGM
05JNR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32498-32499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13070]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120403249-2492-02]
RIN 0648-XD200
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2014 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) of the South Atlantic for the 2014 fishing year through this
temporary rule. Recreational landings from 2013, as estimated by the
Science and Research Director (SRD), exceeded the recreational annual
catch limit (ACL) for golden tilefish. Furthermore, information from
2014 recreational landings indicates that landings are projected to
reach the recreational ACL on June 7, 2014. To account for the 2013 ACL
overage and to prevent an ACL overage in 2014, NMFS closes the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on
June 7, 2014. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish
resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 7, 2014,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727-824-
5305, email: Catherine.Hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes golden tilefish, is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council and is implemented under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
In 2013, NMFS published a temporary rule (78 FR 32995, June 3,
2013) to implement the post-season AM to reduce the 2013 fishing season
for the recreational golden tilefish component of the snapper-grouper
fishery. As a result, the recreational sector for golden tilefish was
closed June 3, 2013, until January 1, 2014.
The recreational ACL for golden tilefish is 3,019 fish. In
accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2), if recreational
landings reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL, the
Assistant Administrator, NMFS (AA) will file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register to close the recreational sector for the
remainder of the fishing year. If the recreational ACL is exceeded,
then during the following fishing year, recreational landings will be
monitored for a persistence in increased landings and, if necessary,
the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register
to reduce the length of the following fishing season by the amount
necessary to ensure landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in the
following fishing year. Finalized landings data from the NMFS Southeast
Fisheries Science Center indicate that the golden tilefish recreational
ACL was exceeded by 1,255 fish in 2013. To account for the 2013 ACL
overage and to prevent an ACL overage in 2014, the recreational sector
for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ will be closed on June 7,
2014. Therefore, this temporary rule implements an AM to close the
recreational golden tilefish component of the snapper-grouper fishery
for the remainder of the 2014 fishing year. As a result, the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ will
be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time June 7, 2014.
During the closure, the bag and possession limit for golden
tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is zero. The recreational
sector for golden tilefish will reopen on January 1, 2015, the
beginning of the 2015 recreational fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, (RA) has
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and
management of the South Atlantic golden tilefish component of the South
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary because the AMs
established by Regulatory Amendment 12 to the FMP (77 FR 61295, October
9, 2012) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) have already been subject
to notice and comment and authorize the AA to file a notification with
the Office of the Federal Register to close the recreational sector for
the remainder of the fishing year if recreational landings reach or are
projected to reach the recreational ACL. All that remains is to notify
the public of the recreational closure for golden tilefish for the
remainder of the 2014 fishing year. Additionally, there is a need to
immediately notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing
season for golden tilefish for the 2014 fishing year to prevent further
golden tilefish recreational harvest and prevent the ACL from being
exceeded, which will protect the South Atlantic golden
[[Page 32499]]
tilefish resource. Also, providing prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this action would be contrary to the public interest
because many of those affected by the length of the recreational
fishing season, particularly charter vessel and headboat operations,
book trips for clients in advance and, therefore need as much time as
possible to adjust business plans to account for the reduced
recreational fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 2, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13070 Filed 6-2-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
